The secret to making a high protein salad is by adding protein into your dressing! This high protein chicken salad is made with a peanut butter dressing, using peanut butter powder instead of regular peanut butter! By using peanut butter powder, we can get more protein in with less calories!
This high protein chicken salad is a Thai style chicken salad dressed with a Thai peanut sauce dressing! It's nutty, crunchy, and saucy and is packed with protein!
While high protein meals sometimes get a bad rep for being too 'healthy,' you won't even realize this is a high protein salad because it tastes THAT good! It's a healthy dish disguised as something you might indulge in!
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Ingredients
Use what you like and swap out what you don't! This high protein chicken salad is versatile and can be adapted to your tastebuds!
- Cabbage and carrots: The crunchy base of our salad!
- Scallions: For a mild kick and freshness.
- Cilantro: For some bright herbiness.
- Chicken: Our main protein source here!
- Roasted peanuts: For crunchy texture. Use roasted peanuts or crispy noodle snacks like I did here.
- Fresno peppers: Remove the seeds for a milder flavor! Adds a nice little spice.
- Coconut aminos: The salty aspect of our dressing.
- Garlic: This will give the dressing a little 'bite' or spice on our tastebuds.
- Ginger: A little kick of flavor in our dressing.
- Honey: Sweetness to balance out the saltiness of the coconut aminos.
- Peanut butter powder: Our second source of protein. Use peanut butter powder for more protein and less calories.
- Sriracha: To add some heat into the dressing.
- Olive oil: To emulsify and loosen our thick dressing.
- Lime: Acidity to balance out the peanut butter flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions to Make This High Protein Chicken Salad
- Mix together coconut aminos, garlic, ginger, honey, peanut butter powder, sriracha, lime juice and olive oil.
- Add carrots, cabbage, fresno peppers and cilantro to a large bowl. Pour the dressing on and toss. Garnish with roasted peanuts and scallions.
Top Tips
- Slice everything thinly! Cutting the vegetables uniformly will allow you to get a little bit of everything in one bite.
- Dress and allow it to marinate. Toss the salad in the dressing and let it soak up the peanut butter flavor!
- Use fresh ingredients! It is important to use high quality, fresh ingredients for the best taste and texture.
Variations & Substitutions
- Greens: Sub out cabbage for romaine lettuce, coleslaw mix or even Napa cabbage!
- Protein: Vegetarian? Swap the chicken for some air fried tofu!
- Herbs: Add in Thai basil and mint for more fresh herby flavors.
- Other vegetables: This would go great with some spring peas, snow peas, or radishes!
More recipes to try:
High Protein Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 medium carrots shredded
- ½ medium cabbage shredded
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
- 1 small bunch of cilantro chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- ½ cup roasted peanuts or crispy noodle snacks
- 2 fresno peppers seeds removed, sliced
Peanut Sauce
- ¼ cup coconut aminos
- 4 cloves of garlic pressed
- 1 tablespoon ginger finely minced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ cup of peanut butter powder
- ¼ cup sriracha
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice of ½ a lime 1-2 tbsp
Instructions
- Mix together coconut aminos, garlic, ginger, honey, peanut butter powder, sriracha, lime juice and olive oil.
- Add carrots, cabbage, fresno peppers and cilantro to a large bowl. Pour the dressing on and toss. Garnish with roasted peanuts and scallions.
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